Staff Writer

Authorities say Shane Howell fabricated a story about finding his grandfather murdered Tuesday and then admitted to killing the elderly crippled man himself.

Howell, 33, was booked in the Union County Jail around 1:25 p.m. on the charge of murder. Howell had called Union County 911 around 8 a.m. Tuesday and reported that it appeared someone had broken into the home he shared on 200 Spring St. with 73-year-old Tommy Howell and had killed him in the living room.

Chief Sam White of the Union Public Safety Department said Shane Howell, who lived at the home with Tommy Howell off and on, admitted that he came home intoxicated around 11 p.m. Monday. His grandfather didn't allow drinking in the house and confronted him.

Shane Howell's arrest warrant, signed by Investigator Robbie McGee, said Howell struck his grandfather in the head and body, causing his death.

White said an autopsy may show if some weapon was used.

Union County Coroner William Holcombe said the autopsy is scheduled for this morning at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.

Shane Howell then placed his grandfather's body on the couch where he usually slept, White said.

“He put him on the couch, covered him up - put a blanket on him - and then broke the window,” he said.

Shane Howell left the house and someone picked him up near the site of the old Union High School on East Main Street, White said. He said he was not sure where Shane Howell spent Monday night.

Tuesday morning, Shane Howell called family members and said he had found his grandfather dead. He was instructed to call for help and told family members would meet him at the house.

Sgt. Kevin Powers was one of the first officers on the scene, a report said. Standing on the porch were Leonard Broome, Shane Howell, Trina Vinson, who is Shane's mother and Tommy Howell's daughter, and Tousha Smith, who is Shane's sister. Powers asked them to step across the street away from the house. He found Tommy Howell on the couch. There was bruising around his eyes and blood all over his face.

The story Shane Howell told was not consistent with evidence at the murder scene, White said.

“We felt like from looking at the scene that his story didn't add up,” he said. “We questioned him and he admitted to what he did.”

White said he knew Tommy Howell personally.

“He was just a quiet guy who sat on the front porch and watched cars go by,” he said. “I worked with him (at Buffalo Mill) and he was just a quiet fellow who ran his job and never bothered anybody.”

According to records in the Union County Clerk of Court's office, Shane Howell had a minor past criminal record that dated back to 1995 and included instances where he pleaded guilty to or was convicted of petit larceny, burglary and resisting arrest. According to the solicitor's office he had no current charges on the criminal court docket.